The annual Golden Quiz to decide who has the brainiest team of staff or volunteers in LGBT+ Brighton and Hove takes place at Charles Street Tap on Tuesday, May 15.
Hosted by Lola Lasagne, the strictest and most formidable quiz mistress in the land, the Golden Quiz is one of the most popular events of the LGBT+ season.
Lola says:“The Golden Quiz is one of my favourite gigs of the year and gives us the opportunity to explain any changes to this years online voting. It is essential you reserve your table as last year teams were turning up on the night and there was no room to accommodate them. See you on May 15!”
Eric Page catches up with fellow Welshman Lyndall Merry from the fantastic NoFitState Circus who’s a world-renowned trapeze artist and also chief rigger.
Lyndall Merry
Hi Lyndall, where has circus taken you? “I ran away to join the circus, to escape from university and the confines of rural Wales, school was full of farmers and rugby players and I craved adventure, thrill and the possibility of flying. After touring some incredibly beautiful places, I am now set on returning home to Wales. Wherever I go I am always saddened to see the effect of humanity. To see so much greed, waste and pollution.”
Being gay in a circus, is there a link between sexuality and creative expression?“Being gay in contemporary circus is fully accepted and totally mellow. There are different types of queer in life, sexual preference, personal identity, mental state, physical ability. What counts is the individual’s capacity to share, in and out of the big top. It is about working and living together and being generous as a performer.
“There is a link between personal identity and creative expression, which for many people does involve sexual identity. Specifically to do with an individual who has explored their own identity and experienced the freedom of expression, leading to the realisation that a career in creative expression is possible.”
Is No Fit State your home? “It’s one of my homes, and when on tour home is wherever we are. I have had many homes with different circuses. The circus always creates a safe haven – I lived in east London had gun and knife crime on one side of the gates and open doors and kids running free on the other. My real home is still the Welsh hills and this is where I retreat to.”
Who inspired you? “As a child I watched the outdoor circus shows at Glastonbury festival. Tout fou to fly, Archaos and Turbo zone had impact on me. Many artists and teachers have continued to inspire me to train hard there are many generous people in the circus who share their experiences to better the art form.”
Is there something you’d love to stage which is still waiting for the tech to catch up? “Anything is possible with time and money, there are ideas we have left behind because they weren’t finessed enough for a slick and punchy show. Rather than the tech catching up with our ideas it would be more us catching up with the tech. We have only just started on rigging practices that have been used in film for and sailing for 20 years. Working with projections also we need to explore the potential this technology can deliver.”
Any words of encouragement for younger LGBT+ people? “My absolute goal is to inspire people, to see what is possible through sacrifice and commitment. To become a circus performer start training as much as you can as soon as you can. Keep the horizons broad and look as far away as necessary for the best people to help you achieve your goals and channel a know everything there is to know attitude.
“Nothing is black and white, everybody has a different life experience and some people struggle harder than others. Try not to be confined by the journey and discovery of identity. Be compassionate and kind to others and learn how to exist and share the world with people of all spectrums, and above all think carefully about the planet, we only have one.”
Where’s your favourite gay bar? My best is the NYC Downlow, which travels between UK festivals, open and obscene, excellent music and good people. The other is Tubesteak at Aunt Charlie’s, San Francisco, tiny, old school, narrow gay bar, brilliant genuine characters, great music and welcome atmosphere.
See Lydall fly along with the rest of NoFitState Circus performers in the World Premier of Lexicon on Hove Lawns from May 3-14.
Do you want to sing in an all male chorus with other gay men?
SOME people join Actually Gay Men’s Chorus simply because they love to sing and perform. Others join because they strongly believe in the ongoing mission of the chorus for acceptance, equality, and individuality.
For all of those who do join, Actually is a family — a great place to meet people and make new friends while doing something enjoyable and worthwhile.
All members are on an individual journey of growth and, wherever you are on your journey, the Actually family is always there to support you.
Following their well-received Spring show, Ovation – Every Song An Encore!, Actually are looking for new talent to join them for their exciting Summer Term.
There is no formal audition process and they seek all male voice parts.
There will be an open rehearsal on Thursday, May 10, 7.45pm at their home, St Andrew’s Church, Waterloo Street, Hove.
For more information contact them via social media @ActuallyGMC, by email: enquiries@actuallycic.org or speak to any of their members.
Our summer performance, True Colours, will take place at St Andrews on August 3, 2018.
Indian singer Ishani returns with her new track Insomnia.
The Don’t stop the fight singer has released her latest single Insomnia – an ambient Trip hop track that aims to show solidarity with those struck with insomnia.
The singer describes the release as “a love song to all of those sleepless people up all night, trapped in their sheets.”
She explains: “I wanted to send some loveand strength to those people. One in three of us experience mild insomnia, but you’re not alone and yours isn’t the only light on in the middle of the night.”
Seeing airplay on MTV India and BBC introducing in 2014, with her track Pelican Elephant, the musician has since supported the Icelandic electronic group GusGus at Be My Lake Festival, and performed at the Sziget Festival.
Ishani is also set to release her debut EP Stormy Emotions in August of this year.
Following the success of the new Communities Fund last year, Brighton & Hove City Council are inviting applications for grants from the fund in 2018-19.
LAST year over 100 local community groups, voluntary organisations and not-for-profit social enterprises were supported by the fund.
If you’re group is working to achieve one of these three simple outcomes you may be eligible for support:
♦ Improving Wellbeing
♦ Building Cohesion
♦ Promoting Fairness
There are three funding schemes to choose from:
♦ Engagement (for organisations with an income usually up to £20K pa)
♦ Resilience (for organisations with an income usually up to £100K pa)
♦ Collaboration (for partnership projects comprising organisations of any size)
For Engagement and Resilience funding there are three application deadlines:
May 18, 2018 (for full year running costs or early project starts)
July 20, 2018 (for half-year running costs or mid-year project starts)
October 19, 2018 (for final quarter running costs or end of year project starts)
There are no bid deadlines for Collaboration Funding. Instead an agreed Expression of Interest document will be required in support of an application.
The council have developed a straightforward on-line bidding platform that allows for you to complete an application in your own time and save your progress at any point.
Following a hearing on Monday, April 23, Brighton & Hove City Council’s licensing panel has decided against renewing UBER Britannia Ltd’s (UBL) Private Hire Operator Licence in the city.
THE unanimous decision was taken because members of the licensing panel were not satisfied that UBL are a “fit and proper person” to hold an operator’s licence under the terms of Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the council’s licensing objectives.
The panel considered all circumstances relating to the application and the factors operating in Brighton & Hove. This included a number of issues raised by those objecting to the application, which they found to carry very little or no evidential weight.
The panel had significant concerns about the company’s decision to conceal a data breach affecting 57 million customers and drivers, which resulted in the company paying hackers a ransom of $100,000 (£75,000) in 2016 to delete the data and UBL’s lack of commitment to use only Brighton & Hove licensed drivers in the city. These formed the basis of the decision to not renew the licence.
Cllr Jackie O’Quinn
Chair of the licensing panel, Councillor Jackie O’Quinn, said:“When making Hackney Carriage and Private Hire operator licensing decisions, our priority is the safety of residents and visitors and, due to the data breach and the lack of commitment to using drivers licensed here, we were not satisfied that UBL are a fit and proper person to hold an operator’s licence in the city.
“All Brighton & Hove private hire and Hackney Carriage drivers in the city operate under the same licences and guidelines contained in the Blue Book and undergo the same background checks, whichever company they drive for. In the original application in 2015, UBL gave a firm commitment to adhere to the standards set out in the Blue Book and only to use Brighton & Hove licensed drivers. We do not feel the spirit of this commitment has been kept to. In the panel’s view, large numbers of taxis operating in the city that do not meet our Blue Book standards puts the safety of residents and visitors at potential risk.
“We recognise there are strong feelings on this issue and would like to thank all those who took the time to make submissions to the hearing.”
To read more details on the decision, and the full Uber Britannia Ltd Licensing decision letter, published on the council’s website, click here:
The hearing was held in public to make the process as open and transparent as possible. As well as representatives from UBER, the licensing panel heard views for and against renewing the licence from interested parties, including residents and the local taxi trade.
UBER responded to the decision, saying:“This is a disappointing decision for the thousands of passengers and drivers who rely on our app in Brighton and Hove.
“We intend to appeal this decision. We want to assure you that while this process takes place, UBER will continue to operate as normal in Brighton and Hove.
“Over the past year we have made a series of improvements to the way we operate as a business and partner with the cities we operate in.
“We’re committed to serving the thousands of riders using UBER in Brighton and Hove. We will keep you informed of any developments as and when they happen.”
While UBER appeal the decision, their drivers licensed with Brighton & Hove can continue to operate in the city while the appeal is heard.
Right Said Fred’s new single, raises awareness of knife crime.
THE 90s pop band have released their single Lay down your knives as a free download on SoundCloud, to raise awareness of knife crime.
The release comes after a recent report stated knife crime in London has risen by 22% and reflect the Fairbrass brothers’ feelings towards events in London this year.
Regarding the choice of topic for the track, Fred said:“The issue of knife crime really struck a nerve with us. We need more youth centres, better role models for young people, and more police on the streets. Our hearts go out to the victims and families of those affected.”
The duo hope that they can raise an awareness and urge anyone affected by crime to contact the relevant services for support, such as: Victim Support, Childline, and Fearless.
The band have previously supported various charities throughout their time in the industry, such as Crisis, Alzheimer Society, Stroke Association, St. Mungo’s, Asthma UK, Liver4Life, and The Royal Marsden Cancer Society.
A new web-based support programme will help reduce the psychological stress that impacts men who are recovering from prostate cancer.
THE new programme, developed by researchers at the University of Surrey working alongside NHS clinicians, offers online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sessions and both filmed and interactive peer support to survivors of the disease. Prostate cancer is the UK’s most common cancer in men with over 47,000 cases diagnosed annually.
Side effects of treatment such as urinary, sexual and bowel problems and body issues can have a negative effect on men’s psychological wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that 65 per cent of men with prostate cancer report unmet psychological needs and up to a third experience anxiety and depression. Men with prostate cancer also have a higher risk of suicide than their healthy male counterparts, showing a lack of provision for psychological wellbeing within this group.
A study based on the new platform, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research Cancer, reported that men who used the new system found it helped them cope after having prostate cancer. Men reported feeling empowered by the programme signalling a change of attitude in how they approach life post cancer.
Jane Cockle-Hearne
Lead author Jane Cockle-Hearne, a Research Fellow at the University of Surrey, said:“Men traditionally are reticent about seeking help for their mental health, particularly when it is related to prostate cancer. This may be due to embarrassment about asking for help or a reluctance to admit they have a problem, either physical or emotional. What we have found is that this can lead to longer periods of depression and anxiety, which over time can seriously affect a person’s quality of life and how well they cope with their physical problems.
“Thanks to medical advances in diagnosis and treatment, increasing numbers of men are surviving prostate cancer, which is incredibly welcome. But we must act now to treat their mental health too. This new programme will enable men to get the information and support they need, as well as providing the NHS with a cost-effective way to deliver high quality health care.”
Following their successful campaign during the recent Commonwealth Head of Government (ChoGN) meeting in London to draw attention to the plight of LGBT+ people in Commonwealth States, The Peter Tatchell Foundation issues an appeal for donations to help continue the next stage of their work on the campaign.
THE Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of 53 sovereign states, nearly all of them former British colonies or dependencies of those colonies, where homosexual activity remains a criminal offence in 35 of those 53 sovereign states and legal in only 18.
Key successes of the recent awareness raising campaign by The Peter Tatchell Foundation include:
♦ Gathering a 104,115 signatures petition urging decriminalisation and other LGBT+ demands, which was handed to the Commonwealth Assistant Secretary General during the ChoGN meeting.
♦ Helping persuade the Prime Minister Theresa May to “deeply regret” Britain’s imposition of anti-LGBT+ laws on colonised peoples in the nineteenth century, which helped highlight that many of the existing homophobic laws are not authentic, indigenous national legislation.
♦ Staging a vigil outside the Commonwealth HQ during the summit, attended by LGBT+ people from across the Commonwealth, which generated masses of media coverage and public awareness about anti-LGBT+ persecution in 80% of Commonwealth countries.
Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell says:“The fight for LGBT+ rights in the Commonwealth goes on and we will continue to be at the forefront of it.
“We have an exciting new project in the planning which involves collaboration with partners in Commonwealth countries and requires substantial funding.
“Will you consider making a donation or creating a standing order to help fund our work?”
Hosted by Lola Lasagne, the strictest and most formidable quiz mistress in the land, the Golden Quiz is one of the most popular events of the LGBT+ season.
Lola says: “The Golden Quiz is one of my favourite gigs of the year and gives us the opportunity to explain any changes to this years online voting. It is essential you reserve your table as last year teams were turning up on the night and there was no room to accommodate them. See you on May 15!”
Is there something you’d love to stage which is still waiting for the tech to catch up?
Where’s your favourite gay bar?
LAST year over 100 local community groups, voluntary organisations and not-for-profit social enterprises were supported by the fund.
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